Supreme Court Justice Urges CM to Boost Judicial Funding for Infrastructure
Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a state-level conference of judicial officers in Bengaluru, stressing the critical need for court buildings and judges' residences in various districts and taluks across Karnataka. He urged the government to prioritize and significantly increase funding for these essential judicial infrastructures. The appeal was made during the judicial officers' state-level conference held at the Dr. Babu Rajendra Prasad International Convention Center at GKVK.
Justice Kumar highlighted that High Courts and District Courts generate substantial revenue for the state, demanding that at least 75-80% of these collected funds be returned for the judiciary's development. He expressed dissatisfaction with the government's meager allocation, citing a significant discrepancy: while courts collected 376 crores in 2023-24, 439 crores in 2024-25, and 470 crores in 2025-26 (excluding fees, fines, and stamp duties), the government allocated only 1.03 crore, 40 lakhs, 1.37 crore, and 1.41 crore respectively, excluding staff salaries. He labeled this allocation a "pittance" and reiterated the demand for a substantial return of collected revenue.
He further criticized the slow and reduced approval process for new judicial posts. For instance, out of 666 posts proposed for Kalaburagi, Bengaluru, and Dharwad benches over the last two years, only 238 were approved. Similarly, only 400 out of 680 proposed posts for District Courts received approval. The Justice underscored the escalating caseload, which rose from 17 lakh cases in 2023 to 22 lakh in 2025, and the challenges posed by new laws, all necessitating robust infrastructure and staffing. He lamented that proposals for judicial appointments and infrastructure from courts are often met with delays, inattention, or significant reductions by officials, urging the Chief Minister to issue immediate directives for prompt approval of High Court proposals without cuts.
Source: CourtBeat News (Kannada)
